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PW warehouse
Senior Modder
Central
IN
USA
1712 Posts |
 Posted - 12/16/2010 : 22:29:40
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Not our Van. I just read this and thought it might save someones life:
It was bound to happen. I just read in our local newspaper where the rust-out failure of a Ford Windstar rear axle, as happened to my wife's Windstar but in our driveway and I posted pictures of here, resulted in a fatal crash. The article reads:
"Sean Bowman was driving with a classmate to a community college when his Ford Windstar's rear axle cracked in half. The minivan then crashed into a building and killed him, his family said." AP article quote.
This reminds me of how angry I was when I called Ford when first hearing of this on my wife's van and was told that "your vehicle is out of warranty" and they had not ever heard of this before nor did they feel any responsibility to do anything about it.
This is a true tragedy that did not need to happen. The NHTSA finally required a recall after complaints from us and others but Ford swept this problem under the rug for way too long, resulting in this death.
Here is a picture I posted here on 4/30/2009 - a year and a half before this young man died from this same type of axle failure. If anyone knows of anyone still driving this embarrassing piece of poor engineering please caution them to get it replaced asap although the article also says Ford is backed up 4 months on repair parts.... but they are turning a profit!!!
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Edited by - PW warehouse on 12/16/2010 22:31:19 |
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jparthum
Senior Modder
(77627) Nederland
Texas
USA
2272 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2010 : 23:06:15
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Wow - good to know. Thanks for the heads-up!
Fortunately, all of my family and friends (that I can recall) who have mini-vans, have a model manufactured in the States (Honda or Toyota).
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(pics link to threads)
Fast, Reliable, and Cheap... Pick any two.
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TerryInLeesburg
Journeyman Modder
Leesburg
VA
USA
133 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 05:18:08
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| Looks like a 'chop to me. No real rust anywhere else, and then a complete rust-through in one place..... just doesn't look right to me. |
Just learning... |
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Taz11
Advanced Modder
Bloomsbury (08804)
NJ
3739 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 05:26:07
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Probably a rust through from the inside. The metal disappears and leaves the nice shiney paint behind
Definetly a coating defect. I had a rear axle fall our of a Ranger at work. I put it on the lift. As it went up I heard this load tearing POP and the rear dropped out ontil the shocks caught it. The spring shackles rotted right off.
Those in the snow belt have to watch this issue , the new liquid deicer that the DOT puts down is highly corrosive to bare metal. It will rot out a car much faster than rock salt. |
Drive it like you stole it!........out of somebody's garbage! |
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unit2cpd
Journeyman Modder
Clinton
Indiana
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 06:21:48
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| Thanks for posting this David. I have one of these POS's and it has been nothing but trouble. I will give it this... it has hauled a ton of power wheels!! Just one more reason to get me the Chevy truck I want!!!! |
Man this sure is fun to do!!! |
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blake711
Advanced Modder
Skiatook
OK
USA
2622 Posts |
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jfoust
Senior Modder
Atlanta
GA
USA
2419 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 07:26:06
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It's really a shame that the Windstar is such a POS... My dad always had Aerostars back in the day and they were fantastic little vans. He drove them all over the southeast for work, and on weekends we used them to get to soccer tournaments, scout campouts, haul lumber and supplies for projects around the house, etc.
Glad your Wife's axle bit the dust in the driveway and not out on the interstate at 80MPH or something! |
Current Fleet:
Super6 Vette, Grave Digger w/ 19T's, Gaucho Grande, Dora Lil Quad, Eliminator w/ 21T's, 12v Harley, Safety 1st C5R
Scrap Pile (email for parts):
High Torque Gaucho, Red PW Jeep |
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Taz11
Advanced Modder
Bloomsbury (08804)
NJ
3739 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 07:38:50
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quote:
Originally posted by jfoust
My dad always had Aerostars back in the day and they were fantastic little vans.
SAY WHAT? Aerostars were one of the biggest POS's Ford ever built (aside from the soreass ....I mean Taurus)
You must have gotten very lucky on yours! |
Drive it like you stole it!........out of somebody's garbage! |
Edited by - Taz11 on 12/17/2010 07:40:27 |
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blake711
Advanced Modder
Skiatook
OK
USA
2622 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 07:49:37
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| hay hay the Taurus those things kept tire companies strong in the 90s. Those sagging rear end turds. I went to school with a kid that had a 4 sho and he thought that was hot @%$# we all just laughed. You want a supped up grocery getter. Their is only one and its called a Grand National. |
Please sign up at new version of forum at http://forum.modifiedpowerwheels.com/
complexity is the enemy of reliability |
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jfoust
Senior Modder
Atlanta
GA
USA
2419 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 07:53:13
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| Maybe we did get lucky, or maybe we didn't keep them long enough to have them crap out. They were company-provided cars that he was supposed to keep for 2 years and traded in for a new one, but he usually kept them for 3 or 4 years. He was averaging something like 75,000 miles a year back then. He went from his last Aerostar to a Trailblazer, and then finally wised up and got an Armada last year. |
Current Fleet:
Super6 Vette, Grave Digger w/ 19T's, Gaucho Grande, Dora Lil Quad, Eliminator w/ 21T's, 12v Harley, Safety 1st C5R
Scrap Pile (email for parts):
High Torque Gaucho, Red PW Jeep |
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Taz11
Advanced Modder
Bloomsbury (08804)
NJ
3739 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 08:03:55
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I had to fix most of them....AHHH! still makes me gag
What a PITA!
As for the sorea...er...Taurus, I used to work on the Frenchtown Police cars...They had 2 of these used as cruisers...LOL What a JOKE! |
Drive it like you stole it!........out of somebody's garbage! |
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sea_stork
Journeyman Modder
Ocean Springs
MS
USA
294 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 08:21:02
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| A friend of mine had a Windstar, it did good till it needed a tune up, the plug in the back was nearly impossible to get out without unbolting a motor mount, and lifting the motor a bit, like an old V8 Monza. I've been running Toyota's for decades. When my ex-wife left a couple years ago, she took off in MY 4-Runner. I'm driving a 95 Buick Regal GS, and it's a good car. My mom bought it new, and I bought it from her a couple years ago when she got a new car. It has 120k miles, and pulls my 17 ft Whaler fine... |
Dodge Charger Hemi Police Cruiser
Monster Sounds Bigfoot F150
Burgundy Escalade EXT
F150 Monster Traction
MT Yamaha Raptor 700R (3)
Barbie Jammin' Jeep
Barbie Jammin' Jeep reconditioned into a green lifted Jeep (The Bullfrog)
Silver Lil F150 ( 12V)
Firerock Jeep (12v)
Barbie Dune Beetle
Lil Tykes Yellow Hummer H2
Peg Perego Gator 4x2
Step2 Mighty Mac (project)
Peg Perego Gator 4x2 (parts)
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"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead..."
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jfoust
Senior Modder
Atlanta
GA
USA
2419 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 08:35:18
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quote:
Originally posted by sea_stork
A friend of mine had a Windstar, it did good till it needed a tune up, the plug in the back was nearly impossible to get out without unbolting a motor mount, and lifting the motor a bit, like an old V8 Monza.
The Aerostar was the same way. From what I recall, that was the only way to get that back plug. My Pathfinder feels that way, but with enough determination you can get it out... |
Current Fleet:
Super6 Vette, Grave Digger w/ 19T's, Gaucho Grande, Dora Lil Quad, Eliminator w/ 21T's, 12v Harley, Safety 1st C5R
Scrap Pile (email for parts):
High Torque Gaucho, Red PW Jeep |
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jparthum
Senior Modder
(77627) Nederland
Texas
USA
2272 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 08:42:26
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I had a Monza with a transplanted Buick 231 V6 (Grand National motor w/out turbo), and accessing the spark plugs (which needed to be done regularly) was a huge PIA! Front wheels had to be removed, inner fender well had to be removed on one side, etc. I think they were intended to be "maintenance-free", in other words... disposable. |
(pics link to threads)
Fast, Reliable, and Cheap... Pick any two.
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Miami Hurricane
Journeyman Modder
Coral Springs
Florida
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 08:45:13
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| This reminds me of the Ford Pinto scandal back in the 70's where Ford was allegedly aware of a design flaw in the gas tank, but refused to pay for a redesign and decided it would be cheaper to pay off possible lawsuits for resulting deaths. Supposedly a memo was found that showed that Ford did a cost-benefit analysis to compare the cost of an $11 repair against the monetary value of a human life. |
Jeep Hurricane - Blue
Jeep Hurricane - Green
Cat Skid Steer Loader
Peg Perego John Deere Buck (18v) |
Edited by - Miami Hurricane on 12/17/2010 08:45:37 |
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sea_stork
Journeyman Modder
Ocean Springs
MS
USA
294 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 08:53:09
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quote:
Originally posted by jparthum
I had a Monza with a transplanted Buick 231 V6 (Grand National motor w/out turbo), and accessing the spark plugs (which needed to be done regularly) was a huge PIA! Front wheels had to be removed, inner fender well had to be removed on one side, etc. I think they were intended to be "maintenance-free", in other words... disposable.
Wouldn't that motor also be known as a 3.8 (3800)? One of the best V6's ever made. It's what I have in my Regal GS. |
Dodge Charger Hemi Police Cruiser
Monster Sounds Bigfoot F150
Burgundy Escalade EXT
F150 Monster Traction
MT Yamaha Raptor 700R (3)
Barbie Jammin' Jeep
Barbie Jammin' Jeep reconditioned into a green lifted Jeep (The Bullfrog)
Silver Lil F150 ( 12V)
Firerock Jeep (12v)
Barbie Dune Beetle
Lil Tykes Yellow Hummer H2
Peg Perego Gator 4x2
Step2 Mighty Mac (project)
Peg Perego Gator 4x2 (parts)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead..."
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jparthum
Senior Modder
(77627) Nederland
Texas
USA
2272 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 08:53:19
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But don't forget, $11 back then is like $30 now!!!
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(pics link to threads)
Fast, Reliable, and Cheap... Pick any two.
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blake711
Advanced Modder
Skiatook
OK
USA
2622 Posts |
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jparthum
Senior Modder
(77627) Nederland
Texas
USA
2272 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2010 : 09:06:51
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quote:
Originally posted by sea_stork
Wouldn't that motor also be known as a 3.8 (3800)? One of the best V6's ever made. It's what I have in my Regal GS.
Oh yeah, the motor was AWESOME! The car was just horrible.
I beat many a Mustang in that little car! 
Eventually, the firewall 'ripped' where the clutch cable mounted to it, and had no way to disengage the clutch. I would have to start the car in gear (moving the car with the starter until the motor kicked in), then 'syncro-shift'. One of the fondest memories of that cars was racing a Mustang 5.0. At the line, he sat there power-braking - boiling smoke off of the tires until the "GO" signal, while my motor was off. At "GO" he launched and left me like I was standing still (because I was ). I hit the starter - rump, rump, screeeeech, then caught up, and passed him before the line.  People were literally 'rolling on the floor (ground) laughing'.  |
(pics link to threads)
Fast, Reliable, and Cheap... Pick any two.
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unit2cpd
Journeyman Modder
Clinton
Indiana
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2010 : 07:50:24
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| I contacted the Ford dealer here. They said for me to bring it in and they will look to see if it is cracked. If it is they will replace the axle or buy the van from me. If it is not then they will put a sealer on it to help prevent it from breaking. Which IMPO is BS. They need to replace all of them. |
Man this sure is fun to do!!! |
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blake711
Advanced Modder
Skiatook
OK
USA
2622 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2010 : 08:05:52
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quote:
Originally posted by unit2cpd
I contacted the Ford dealer here. They said for me to bring it in and they will look to see if it is cracked. If it is they will replace the axle or buy the van from me. If it is not then they will put a sealer on it to help prevent it from breaking. Which IMPO is BS. They need to replace all of them.
keep us updated. Have you inspected it yourself? You can get down there and tap on it with a hammer see if it shows and bad spots. |
Please sign up at new version of forum at http://forum.modifiedpowerwheels.com/
complexity is the enemy of reliability |
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unit2cpd
Journeyman Modder
Clinton
Indiana
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2010 : 08:32:51
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| I will as soon as I can get it to a garage. We have about 4 inches of snow on the ground. Im not driving it until i get it fixed. I may even get rid of it. Which sucks I have power wheels to pick up and they just dont fit well in the trunk of a police car. |
Man this sure is fun to do!!! |
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PW warehouse
Senior Modder
Central
IN
USA
1712 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2010 : 08:42:29
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I agree with Blake. What the crap were they thinking leaving the channel upward to collect every piece of road grime there is? Then add moisture to that it never would dry out. Pathetic design, why not enclose the channel or flip it over so it cannot collect.
I just feel bad for the family that lost there son. No matter how old it is check it over it might save your life. |
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Taz11
Advanced Modder
Bloomsbury (08804)
NJ
3739 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2010 : 08:48:12
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quote:
Originally posted by unit2cpd
I will as soon as I can get it to a garage. We have about 4 inches of snow on the ground. Im not driving it until i get it fixed. I may even get rid of it. Which sucks I have power wheels to pick up and they just dont fit well in the trunk of a police car.
Don't sweat it, take a look for yourself and then go get the PW. A crack will show up as an orange line or an orange powdery streak.
If you dont see that, take a hammer and tap along the length of the axle. It should hit hard everywhere, If you tap on a spot that feels more like hitting a cardboard box or a depresson appears.....well, then TOW it to the dealer.
In MOST cases it will bend or sag before it actually breaks.
Most suspension failures cause anxious moments and not accidents.
I'm not saying to send your wife and kids out in it every day, But you should be able to go grab a few toys as long as you are alert and cautious. |
Drive it like you stole it!........out of somebody's garbage! |
Edited by - Taz11 on 12/18/2010 08:59:17 |
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PW warehouse
Senior Modder
Central
IN
USA
1712 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2010 : 09:23:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Taz11
quote:
Originally posted by unit2cpd
I will as soon as I can get it to a garage. We have about 4 inches of snow on the ground. Im not driving it until i get it fixed. I may even get rid of it. Which sucks I have power wheels to pick up and they just dont fit well in the trunk of a police car.
Don't sweat it, take a look for yourself and then go get the PW. A crack will show up as an orange line or an orange powdery streak.
If you dont see that, take a hammer and tap along the length of the axle. It should hit hard everywhere, If you tap on a spot that feels more like hitting a cardboard box or a depresson appears.....well, then TOW it to the dealer.
In MOST cases it will bend or sag before it actually breaks.
Most suspension failures cause anxious moments and not accidents.
I'm not saying to send your wife and kids out in it every day, But you should be able to go grab a few toys as long as you are alert and cautious.
But why as a consumer is this something that they overlooked when they actually made the design? How many other vehicles are disigned like this with the channel uppward on the rear axle? I have always had rear wheel drive or 4 wheel drives so never been a issue here. |
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Taz11
Advanced Modder
Bloomsbury (08804)
NJ
3739 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2010 : 10:08:29
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As a mechanic I have seen MANY "WTF WERE THEY THINKING" designs.
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Drive it like you stole it!........out of somebody's garbage! |
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PW warehouse
Senior Modder
Central
IN
USA
1712 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2010 : 10:16:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Taz11
As a mechanic I have seen MANY "WTF WERE THEY THINKING" designs.
I don't doubt that at all. We experience the same thing on farm equipment. |
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unit2cpd
Journeyman Modder
Clinton
Indiana
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2010 : 15:39:23
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| Im just glad that David put this on here. Ford said they dropped the ball by not sending me a letter in the mail about the recall. I will try and get under it on Sunday and see what is going on. |
Man this sure is fun to do!!! |
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jfoust
Senior Modder
Atlanta
GA
USA
2419 Posts |
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chozian
Expert Modder
Meridianville
AL (35759)
USA
631 Posts |
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unit2cpd
Journeyman Modder
Clinton
Indiana
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 12/24/2010 : 13:46:33
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Ok update guys.... I took my van in yesterday and was told that I have 6 hole in the axle. They said that since it is a 1999 that Ford will most likely buy it back from me at a price of $2300. They stated that vans between 1998 and 2000 are going to be bought back and crushed. Ford will also pay for a rental for up to 150 days.
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Man this sure is fun to do!!! |
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blake711
Advanced Modder
Skiatook
OK
USA
2622 Posts |
Posted - 12/24/2010 : 14:05:42
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| I would take the money and be rolling in a rental for a quite a while till I found me a new ride. :) |
Please sign up at new version of forum at http://forum.modifiedpowerwheels.com/
complexity is the enemy of reliability |
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kickingrass
New Member
Everett
wa
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 12/24/2010 : 18:23:11
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That video is some scary $**t!
Take the $$$$$ and roll the rental for 149 days(even after You buy a new car) |
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unit2cpd
Journeyman Modder
Clinton
Indiana
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 12/25/2010 : 11:22:48
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| Thats what Im going to do. |
Man this sure is fun to do!!! |
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kickingrass
New Member
Everett
wa
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 12/25/2010 : 18:35:46
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There is a ford ad running on this page 
That got a real LOL |
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jfoust
Senior Modder
Atlanta
GA
USA
2419 Posts |
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Anyone with a Ford Windstar Minivan
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